Look Up, Lift Up Your Heads!*

Looking around at the world these days, it is difficult not to become discouraged. We have seen a pandemic, political chaos and division, and financial turmoil. However, Jesus told His disciples that when they see these things begin to come to pass, to look up, lift our heads, for our redemption draws nigh (Lk. 21:28). The writer of the Book of Hebrews, whom I believe to be Paul, said: "Wherefore seeing we also are encompassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin." (Heb. 12:1-4). Jesus always had His eyes upward, on His Father, and therefore, was able to put all of His trust in the success of God's plan for the salvation of man, and His role as the sacrifice for it. The great warrior of God, David, faced a terrible situation when he and his men came home from war with the Philistines to find that their home city of Ziklag had been invaded by the Amalekites, and burned. Not only was their stronghold destroyed, but the women and children, including David's two wives, had been taken away captive: "Then David and the people that were with him lift up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep...And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God." (1 Sam. 30:1-6). As David turned his face to the LORD, he was given the assurance of victory, went in pursuit of the Amalekites, and retrieved the captives. David recovered all (v. 18-19). In Psalm 42, the psalmist had a feeling of being downcast, continually in tears, feeling forgotten and forsaken by God. Jesus experienced this same crushing separation from God on the cross. The psalmist was even looking forward to his own death in order to escape the feeling of hopelessness that overwhelmed him. However, he sought God in His holy house, following the crowds, singing the songs of joy and praise there. In the middle of this challenge to his soul, the psalmist declared in God's house, "Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life...Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." Like David, the psalmist lifted up his head, and encouraged himself in the LORD. After his victorious showdown with the prophets of Ba'al before all Israel, Elijah is threatened by the king's wife, Jezebel (1 Kings 19:1-18). Elijah flees in fear as a result of this threat. We see a terrible spiritual attack here upon Elijah as he is overcome with a suicidal desire: "...it is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers." (v. 4). Elijah is at his lowest point. The LORD miraculously sends an angel to minister food and drink to strengthen Elijah, who travelled forty days on the strength of that food to a cave at Mt. Horeb, the mount of God. There again, Elijah, instead of looking up, and seeing the miraculous hand of God upon him, saw only his dreadful circumstances. Elijah said to the LORD: "...I have been very jealous for the LORD of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my ife to take it away." (v. 10). There were great and dramatic events before Elijah then - a great and strong wind that smasshed stone and mountains, an earthquake, and then a fire. However, the LORD was not in any of these overwhelming events. Finally, after these shaking events, there was a still, small voice, in which the LORD was found by Elijah as he came to the entrance of the cave to hear it. After experiencing all of these things, Elijah still spoke to the LORD of being the only prophet of God left in Israel, and of how others were seeking to take his life away (11-14). In answer, the LORD gave Elijah his prophetic assignments for the days ahead, and declared to Elijah, "Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Ba'al, and every mouth which hath not kissed him." (v. 15-18). The LORD was still working, even prophetically appointing the next generation of kings and prophets. In addition, God's remnant remained in Israel to worship Him, regardless of how it had looked to Elijah's eyes. We are not alone, to be subject to fear and despondency. We have only to look up, to have our purpose renewed by God, and to be encouraged in His prophetic plans in Christ. As Jesus described the great challenges that come to the people of God, when they feel weakest and most overcome, He told them what they would see if they would just look up (Mt. 5:1-16). Those who were poor in spirit, acknowledging their total dependence on God, were really blessed, because the kingdom of God belonged to such as themselves. Those who felt loss in mourning were blessed, because they would be comforted by God. Those who were meek, quiet and humble but with stength, were blessed, because they would inherit the whole earth. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness as if they were were suffering starvation for it, were blessed, because they would find themselves filled with that righteousness. Those who are merciful to others despite the trying circumstanes, are blessed, because they will receive the mercy of God. Those who keep their hearts pure, perhaps in loneliness, regardless of the impurity around them, are blessed, because they shall see God. Those who are peacemakers, pursuing peace even in situations of strife and violent events, are blessed, because God shall call them His children. Those who experience persecution and false accusation for their faith, are blessed, and should rejoice exceedingly, because they have great rewards in heaven. Don't look at wickedness, but look at God. This is what keeps us as light and salt in the earth. Unless we are determined to lift our heads to seek our lives' truth in God, rather than the circumstances around us, we as spiritual salt lose our savor, and the darkness overcomes the spiritual light within us as we hold it low, and allow circumstances to cover it. This is a truth we need to know, especially in these last days that are a challenge for all believers. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 6/27/21 message to the church. To contact, or to purchase the new book, "NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling": P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and at endtimeschool.com

Snatching Victory From Defeat*

 

The signs of the End Times are increasing all around us. It is a time of many challenges, even persecution, for believers, because the Devil has come down with great wrath, knowing his time is short. Through all however, we are called to snatch victory from defeat. The prophet Isaiah revealed the root cause for the condition of defeat in God's people:

"Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God; and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity...Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: And the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor..."   Isa. 59:1-4, 15-16

Isaiah found that the root cause of the failure to see the favor of God is because our own iniquity separates us, isolates us, from Him. The evil things that the world does, we, God's people, are doing also. We are participating in the very things God has said that He hates, and even considers abomination, according to His Word found in Prov. 6:16-19. 

Isaiah goes on to say that as no man has stepped forward in word or prayer:

"...therefore his (God's) arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke. According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies;...So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun."  v. 16-19

The LORD sent His own salvation and righteousness, in the absence of it in man. Though conditions in the natural were total defeat, the LORD brought victory out of the spiritual realm. This is where the greatest victory comes from- not from the earthly realm, but the heavenly realm:

"When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard ("nus"- to cause to disappear, to put to flight) against him. And the redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD."  v. 19

In this spiritual victory over the enemy that the LORD has gotten by His own arm, the results are wide-sweeping. His Redeemer comes, and God's people who repent reap the great benefits:

"As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; my spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy (the prophet's) mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed...from henceforth and for ever. Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising."   Isa. 59:21, 60:1-3

The same Spirit that anointed the prophet, and directed the words in his mouth, will also be upon the people. We are to speak the same word, the homologea, as God speaks in scripture. His glory, the same glory as the Father and Himself, shall be upon us, even as Jesus prayed (Jn. 17:22). That light and glory will bring Gentiles and kings, sons and daughters to us and to Him (v. 4).
We see examples of victory being snatched from defeat in scripture, like David, bare handed, snatching his lambs from the mouths of lions and bears. In Exodus, Moses and the children of Israel were trapped with the Sea in front of them, and the greatest king at the time, Pharaoh of Egypt, and his army coming up behind them. The people, seeing only the defeat that faced them in the natural, despaired at Moses for bringing them out of Egypt into the wilderness to die (Ex. 14:12). However, Moses declared to them:
"Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."  v. 13-14
As Moses raised his rod as God instructed him, and stretched forth his hand over the sea, the waters were parted and heaped up like walls, and the children of Israel went through the Sea on dry ground (v. 22). When the Egyptian army pursued them into the sea, the waters, at the direction of Moses, returned upon the army, and not one escaped (v. 27-28).
At a time when he had been anointed, but had not yet become king, David faced one of his greatest possible defeats if seen through the natural circumstances. When David and his men had come to Ziklag (meaning "winding, an out flowing of a fountain"), the Amalekites (descendants of Esau) had raided it, set it on fire, and taken all of their wives and children, including David's two wives (1 Sam. 30:1-3). David and his men wept with despair. His men even talked of stoning him, because he had led them to this place of defeat. However, David encouraged (to be firm, restore to strength, display strength, repair) himself in the LORD (v. 6). David then sent for the priest and inquired of the LORD whether he should pursue the enemy, and the LORD gave him the word to pursue: "...for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all." (v. 8). David and a portion of his men did indeed attack the Amalekites, not only recovering their families and possessions, but the huge spoil of the Amalekites as well. And all the spoil, called "David's spoil" was divided among all, even his weary men who had staid behind at the brook Besor (root meaning: gladden with good news, glad tidings, show forth, messenger, preach, announce salvation), and also with others who had supported David throughout Judah and beyond. This is also an encouragement for all in the Body of Christ who have been a support to others who have been in ministry.
In the natural circumstances, it seemed that David faced losing his family, his prophesied kingship, even his life. However, shortly after the miraculous victory over the Amalekites, Saul was killed, and David did indeed become king. From defeat to victory is the miraculous work of God in His people.
In these Last Days before Christ's return, it seems that there are many things about which to feel discouraged and even fearful. There are many voices that are shouting "Defeat!" to those who love God. However, we have been called to snatch victory from defeat in the name of Jesus, our salvation, and that victory is achieved first in the Spirit by the Word in our mouths, and then manifests in the natural. As the word of the LORD was seen by Isaiah:
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."  Isa. 2:1-3
This is the word of "victory" in our mouths through the arm of God - His Son, Jesus the Messiah, our righteousness and our salvation.

*The above is based upon the 12/8/19 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson. 

To Contact/Submit prayer requests/Support the ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH-White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling", and to help us get out the message:

Dr. Kenneth Stevenson
P.O. Box 154221
Waco, TX  76705

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

http://endtimeschool.com/

To watch/hear Dr. Stevenson's complete message:

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

https://everlastingcovenant.sermon.net/main/main/21320220
 

Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.

 

Dr. Stevenson's newest book is now available:
  

To order "NAZAH": https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8     http://endtimeschool.com/